people gathered outside the white house and in new york city. the united states has strongly supported the mubarak government since he took office nearly three decades ago. one reason this crisis has been difficult for the obama administration to navigate. the assassination of egyptian president anwar sadat ushered in a new era of u.s. relations with egypt. radical muslims threatened by egypt's peace with israel took out sadat. the u.s. dep prat to protect israel and eager to keep its most important arab ally embraced the new leader hosni mubarak. that was october 1981. the u.s. has held on to mubarak as a critical friend ever since despite his ought crattic rule and documented human rights